Machine for marking can-tops.



H. NELSON.

MACHINE FOR MARKING CAN TOPS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB.11.1914.

Patented. M924, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET I.

IN VEN TO R H ermmn WBZSOIZQ,

ATTORNEY H. NELSON.

MACHINE FOB. MARKING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11,1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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- INVENTOR,

Hwrma'n Nelsam,

A TTORNE Y UNITE STA 1 1% FATT @FIQE.

HERMAN NELSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF TO WALTER H. TROTTER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR MARKING CAN-TOPS.

Application filed February 11. 1914.

Be it known that l HnRMAx Nntsox, a subject of the King of Sweden. residing at San Francisco, in the county of San F1111 cisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Marking (an-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine by which can tops, gathered in a pile. which is from time to time replenished at the top, may be successively removed from the bottom of the pile, printed or'stamped with any desired characters, and inserted in the bottom of another pile of can tops, from which they can be from time to time taken away at the top.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side" view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. *1. certain of the can tops of a pile being omitted; Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of a portion of the machine; Fig. 5 is'a transverse vertical section of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig, 4. 4

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates angle-irons supported at their ends by legs 2, and supporting near the middle a table 3. and at one end a table 4. Above each of said tables are secured vertical confining rods 6 for piles of can tops 7. Having its hearings in hangers 8 depending from said angle-irons is a shaft 9, carrying at one end a pulley 10, by which power is supplied from a suitable source, and at the middle a sprocket wheel 11, which engages a sprocket chain 12. which travels around an idle sprocket wheel 13, on a shaft 14: journaled in bearings 15 depending from the frame. The upper portion of said chain travels between the a'ngleirons 1. and upon a channeliron 16 secured to, and between. said angleirons. At suitable intervals links of said sprocket chain are formed with outwardly extending pushers 17, which can pass between levers 18. pivoted. as shown at 19. on the frame of the machine. said levers having converging portions 28 between which said pushers must pass. In so passing they en gage said converging portions 28 and cause the front ends of said levers to move outward.- from one another. Said levers 18 are f .ned with longitudinal slots 23. througn which extend pins 24. depending Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 818.178.

from lifters 25 slidable transversely of the machine in guideways 26 in the table, said table 3 having transverse slots 27 to receive said pins. Said lifters Q5 llOl'llltlllY support the pile of can tops, but when a pusher 17 engages the converging portions of the levers 18. said lifters are moved outwardly, per mitting the pile of can tops to drop. The rear ends of the levers at the same time move inwardly. The. rear portions of the levers are formed with rearwardly diverging inner edges 21., which, by the action of the next pusher in advance. have been moved inwardly, so that, when the next succeeding pusher 17 passes between said rear ends it causes them to be moved outwardly, thereby moving inwardly the front ends of the levers, and also the lifters. of the lifters are sharp or beveled and are on a level such that, when moved inwardly, they pass above the lowermost can top. and thus said lifters lift all except the lowermost can top of the pile. This action takes place before the first-named pusher arrives at the pile of can tops, and when it does so arrive thereat it finds all except the lowermost can top raised above its level, so that the pusher can pass thereunder. propelling with it said loi'vern'iost can top, the side edges of said can top traveling .in grooves 29 in guide plates 31 secured on the angle-irons 1. Thus the can tops are propelled toward the table 4. The ends of said grooves immediatelv in front of the table 1 are .at such a level relative to the adjacent edge of the table that, when a can top arrives at the table -l. its advancing edge is below the edge of the lowermost can top of the pile thereon, and in consequence the can top which is being transferred is pushed beneath the pile on the table 4:, raising said pile and taking its place as the lowermost can top of the pile.

lVhile. however. the can top is traveling in the cam grooves, it is printed or indented bv the following described mechanism. On the shaft 9 is a sprocket wheel 30 around which travels a sprocket chain 32. traveling also around a sprocket wheel 38 on a shaft 34. the bearings of which are supported upon standards 35. and engaging the teeth of a sprocket wheel 36 on a shaft -37, the bea rings of which are supported upon standards 38. said shaft carrying diametrically opposite stamps 39, having on their outer The inner edges 1 ends type tl for printing any desired characters 4:2 on the can top; By the rotation of the "shaft said type are brought into contact with an inking roller 43 on the shaft 34, ink being supplied thereto by channels is in a plate 45 leading from an ink vessel 46, supported upon a bracket 47 extending from one of the standards 35, and the ink being spread upon said roller by a spreading roller 48, the shaft of which is pivoted in the ends of arms 4-9 extending from the upper ends of the standards The type having been inked by the inking roller next come into contact with the can top and travel therewith, and make the desired im- "print thereon. Should it be preferred to stamp the char acters in the can top instead of printing them thereon this is done by means of upper dies 51 upon the ends of the stamps 39 which coact with lower dies 52 on oppositely extending sprockets 53 of a sprocket wheel 54, the sprockets of which coact with the links-of the chain to be rotated thereby. in this case the inking roller is of course omitted 1 I claim 1. In combination with means for confining two piles of objects, a rotary device between said means, having thereon means for impressing a character on one of said objects, continuously moving means for transferring each object successively from the bottom of one pile to the bottomof the other, means actuated. by said continuously moving means for raising all except the lowermost object vof the first-named pile, means actuated by said continuously moving means for withdrawing said raising means after the lowermost object has been transferred,

' I said object.

ing means for withdrawing said levers after the lowermost object has been transferred, and means operating in harmony with said continuously moving means for actuatingsaid rotary means to impress a character on sald object. Y

3. In combination with means for confining two piles of objects: a rotary device between said means, having thereon means for impressinga character on one of said objects, an endless belt having spaced devices for transferring each ob ect successively from the bottom of one pile to the bottom of the other, means actuated by succeeding devices for raising all except the lowermost object of the first-named pile, means actuated by said devices at a further point in their path for-withdrawing said raising means after the lowermost object has been transferred, and means operating in harmony with the movement of said belt for actuating said rotary means to impress a character on said object.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN NELSON;

Witnesses I Fninors M. WRIGHT,

\ B. RICHARDS. 

